Wolves Wild

Our annual visit to the Mermaid at Wightwick to see its wisteria flowering. Perhaps a week or so before the season was at its peak, but there were still plenty of flowers out.

There haven’t been many butterflies about at all this year. This male orange tip landed by the canal at Wightwick, partially hidden in the short grass.

Lots of greater stitchwort flowers by the canal footpath. These were out at Castlecroft. Its name, and that of its smaller relative, lesser stitchwort, comes from its (former) use as a herbal remedy for abdominal cramps brought on when exercising without warming up (“stitch”). Effectiveness very doubtful.

Another pair of proud parent geese from West Park with recently hatched goslings. This time the birds are Canadas. There were three goslings when I took these pictures. Sadly, only two were still there the next day.

A busy bumble bee on dandelion flowers. The bee is a common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum).

For once a holly blue butterfly was resting with its wings open rather than folded. It was resting on an ivy leaf – one of the food plants of the caterpillars, and it may have been advertising its presence hoping to attract a mate.